GB2214557A - Rekeyable system for cylinder locks - Google Patents

Abstract

In normal operation (fig 5) a key 5 acts on tumblers 14 to enable the rotation of a cylinder 2 within a cylinder lock body 1. Control pins 151, 241 are also provided which normally allow cylinder rotation but which resist any axial movement thereof. A longer key 8 can be used (fig 6) to act on the control pins to enable the cylinder to be removed and an inclined end 42 enables the insertion of a replacement cylinder. A sleeve 3 is located between the cylinder and the lock body, is provided with holes in alignment with the tumblers, and is coupled to be moved axially on cylinder rotation. <IMAGE>

Description

REKEYABLE SYSTEM FOR LOCKS This invention provides a rekeyable system for locks. It consists of the plug of the lock set in a structure that can be removed and disassembled and then change combinations by alignning the tumblars with a new set key without any disassembly or removal.

Locks have a close relationship with our daily lives and their use becomes more and more frequent. But as the modes of secity become increasingly complicated, the grades we demand on precision, reliability and practical function rises acordingly. Besides, as Criminal technics improved so that selection of a proper lock is absoultely important.

Lock sets frequently need to be replaced. For instance, when a lessee moves to a new building, or the locks used at some special place need to be changed fro time to time in order to enhance protection. Conventional locks must be removed as a whole set during replaceent.

Owning to economics this is extrerenly wasteful; in terns of technic it is complicated and inpraetcal since the work must be done by a specialized craftsman.

A rekeyable system for locks, this invention has been designed mainly in response to eficientcies in the common locks available now such as high costs and technical restrictions during replacement. It is like other locks in the sence that the plug of the lock set is combined together with the lock body as a single unit. But when the user wishes to change it, he needs only to use a control key to terminate the assembly relationship between the plug and the lock body, and can easily remove it from the lock body and then align the tumblars corresponding to another new code-number key thus achieving the object of a new lock set. Its other main feature lies in that the cylinder can be removed and then replaced with a new one to obtain a changed locks the same as the old one.Since this rekeyable system does not need any special technics, everyone can operate it smoothly. In terms of cost, since the user does not need to change the entire lock set, this system reaches thrify and more function as well.

Embodiments of the invention are described by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a three-dimentional exploded view of the structure of this invention when applied to the door lock; Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the combination shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the line 3-3 shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the line 2-2 shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view of the unlocked status of the lock by means of correctly opening it with the key; Fig. 6 is a view of the plug disassembly by the control key; Fig. 7 is the examplary embodiment of the construction of the lower lock pin in relation to the present invention; Fig. 8 is the first examplary embodiment of the rod-type key; Fig. 11 is the cross sectional view of Fig. 10;; Fig. 12 is the third examplary embodiment of the rod-type key; Fig. 13 is the cross sectional view of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a view of the rod-type key with an axial straight groove; Fig. 15 is the examplary embodiment of the control key in relation to the present invention; Fig. 16 is the examplary embodiment of the rodtype key with an axial straight groove; Fig. 17 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is the applied examplary embodiment of the round rod-type key and the lock set of Fig. 16; Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view of line 3-3 in Fig. 18; Fig. 20 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the rekeyable lock system applied to the padlock structure in relation to the present invention; Fig. 21 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of the padlock structure in a locked status; Fig. 22 is a cross sectional view of line 3-3 in Fig. 21;; Fig. 23 is a cross sectional view of the padlock structure in an unlocked status; Fig. 24 is a cross sectonal view of line 3-3 in Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is the front view of the combination of the two examplary embodiments of the rekeyable system of the present invention applied to the door lock structure. (This structure does not need to use a control key); Fig. 26 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 25.

(The status of the rosette is under restraint); Fig. 27 is another cross section a vie of Fig. 25.

(The status of the rosette without restraint); Fig. 28 is a front cross sectional view of the third examplary embodiment of the rekeyable sister of the present invention applied to the door lock structure.

(The structure of the removed and dissassembled lock body); Fig. 29 is the cross sectional view of line 3-3 shown in Fig. 28; Fig. 30 is the cross sectional view along the line 3-3 shown in Fig. 29. ( The rosette has been truned at an angle); Fig. 31 is a cross sectional view of the fourth examplary embodiment of the rekeyable system of the present invention applied to the door lock structure.

(The automatic plate-filling-type rekeyable structure); Fig. 32 is a cross sectional view of ling 3-3 shown in Fig. 31; Fig. 33 is a view showing the unlikced status of the structure shown in Fig. 31; Fig. 34 is a cross sectional view of line 3-3 shown in Fig. 33; Fig. 35 is a view showing the automatic platefilling of the structure shown in Fig. 31; Fig. 36 is a cross sectional view of line 3-3 shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 1 is a three - dimensional parts exploded view of the structure of the rekeyable system applied to the door lock. The main components are the cylinder (1), plug (2), locking - up sleeve (3), slip-on ring (4) and a round rod-type key (5), which are described separately below: The cylinder ( 1 ), in which a through plug hole (11) is eccentrically provided, an enlarged part (12) is provided in front of the plug hole (11), a cocsf arc (13) is provided in the inner diameter of this plug housing; a row of ladder-type pin holes (14) which are communicable to the plug hole are provided on the surface of the inner tube, the number and Interval of these pin holes (14) can be increased or decreased depending on the need.A ring tube (6) is provided upper lock pins (141)(151) and springs (142)(152), and to position steel bead (161) and spring (162) as well.

The cylinder (1) has a spring (62) and a stop pin (62) at an appropriate position passing through opening (63) of the ring tube (6) to fix the rign tube (6) to the cylinder (1).

Upper end of the upper lock pin (141) is a ladder type structure (1411) in cylindrical form. Its intermediate section is a conical structure (1412) and its lower end has a flange (1413) corresponding to the cylindrical structure (1411) for inserting into a ladder-type pin hole (14) permanently and to prose burglar-proof effect.

The plug (2), with a round key hole (21) in its central part is shown. A row of the ladder-type P holes (22) are provided on the circumference of tis holes (21) and are communicaable to the round key hole (21), in each of these there is a ladder-type lower lock pin (221). A separate ladder-type pin hole (23) is provided at the front-end position in the same ro as the others (22), and, in this hole (23), a ladder-type return pin (231) and a spring (232) are provided.

Normaly this return pin (231) is pushed against by the spring (232) and does not extend into the round key hole (21). Besides, at the rear end part in the same row of the ladder-type pin holes (22), a separate ladder-type pin hole (24) is provided. In this hole (24), a laddertype lower control pin (241) is provided opposite to the upper pin (151) on the cylinder (1). Generaly, the above-said return pin (231) is opposite to the concave arc (13) on the inner diameter of the plug hole (11) of the cylinder (1). On the end face of the lock plug (2), a cross groove (25) is provided to accommodate the lock tonque (26) therein.In position on this end face and opposite to the above-said lacer- type hole (22), an inclined groove (27) is provided to serve as a guide to the plug (2) when the plug (20) is pushed and positioned in to the plug hole (11). Also, at a proper position on the circumference of the plug (2), a catch post (28) is provided slightly higher than the circumference of the plug (2).

The locking-up sleeve (3) is in the shape of a hollow ring. Its inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the plug (2) and can be set on the outer diameter of the plug (2). On this locking-up sleeve (3), through holes (31) in a number equal to that of and at position opposite to the ladder-type pin holes (22) of the plug (2) are provided. An opening (32) is situated on its front end in the same row of the through hole (31). This is provided to allow the return pin (231) to freely retract without any hindrance. On the locking-up sleeve, a through hole (33) is provided at a position opposite to that of the steel bearing (161) of the above-said cylinder (1), while on its other side, a through V-shaped guide groove (34) is provided.The above-said catch post (28) provided on the plug (2) is designed to be located at the lowest position in this V-shaped gride groove (34). Also it is flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3).

The slip-on ring (4), is fixed on the end of the plug (2) by a positioning pin (41). A concave plate (42) is punched on the circumference of the slip-on sleeve by mechanical processing. When connected to the plug (2), this concave plate (42) can be set in the inclined groove (27) in the rear end of the plug (2).

Once connected, the slip-on ring (4) stays at an interval away from the lock-up sleeve (3), thus making the pin hole (24) in the end of the plug (2) firmly positioned in this interval.

The round rod-type key (5), has a guide groove (52) cut opposite to and matching the ladder-type lower lock pin (221) on the plug (2), and a round hole (.3) is provided at a position opposiste to the return pin (231).

Fig. 2 denotes the cross sectional view of the combination of the examplary embodiment shown in Fig.1.

Various upper lock pins (141) provided on the cylinder (1) as shown in Fig. 2 are located at the lowest pant of the ladder-type pin holw (14), due to the push of the spring (142) and also extends to the pin hole (22) of the plug (2) through the through hole (31) in the locking-up sleeve (3), thus producing a locking-up status. Futhermore the upper control pin (151) provided on the end of the cylinder (1) is also located at the lowest position in the ladder-type hole (15) due to the push of the spring (152), but the length of this upper control pin only extends to the interval between the locking-up sleeve (3) and the slip-on ring (4) and not into the pin hole (24) in the end of the plug (2). Thus when the plug (2) is rotated, it (2) is not caught and restricted by the upper control pin (151) and can be smoothly rotated by an applied force.

As shown in Fig. 3, under the pushing force of the spring (232) the return pin (231) presses against the concave arc (13) of the inner diameter of the rosette hole (11). The lower end of this pin (231) does not extend into the round key hole (21).

Fig. 4 illiterate howthe steel bearing (161) provided on the cylinder (1) presses against and contacts the outer diameter of the plug (2) due to the push of the spring (163). Since the pushing force of the steel bead (161) against the plug (2) is stronger than that against the locking-up sleeve (3) when the play is driven into motion, the movement velocity of the plug (2) difers with that of the locking-up sleeve (3). In addition, the catch post (28) provided on the plug (2) is set in the V-shaped guide groove (34) of the locking-up sleeve (3). The displacement of the plug (2) will make the catch post (28) displace along the inclined side of the V-shaped guide groove (34) to drive the locking-up sleeve (3) forward.The main function of this design is that whenever a wrong key orXtool is inserted in the lock set either by the user by mistake or as an unlawful attempt to open the lock-this action drives the plug (2) in motion. (as mentioned above).

The velocity of the plug (2) difers with that of the locking-up sleeve (3), thus making the through hole (31) in the locking-up sleeve (3) clamp and stops the upper lock pin (141). Therefore the loc set can never be moved or opened by an improper tool, which is one of the important burglar-proof measures for this invention.

The structure of this invention has the best burglar-proof function, when the user wishes to open the lock set. He has to use the correct key and guid various lower lock pins (221) simultaneously to a position flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3).

As Fig. 5, shows the correct rod-type key (5) inserted into the round key hole (21) of the plug (2) and then rotated at an angle to make various lower lock pins (221) simultaneously move to the lowest possible position of the opposite guide grooves (52) on the key rod (51). At the aplied force point (521), the lower lock pin (221) moves upward to a positio flat and even to the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3), the various opposite upper locking-up pins (141) are also pushed up by the lower locking-up pin (221) to a distance where they can back out of the ladder-type pin hole (22), thus lifting the catch-andstop status of the plug (2). Now the user can continuedly rotate the rod-type key (5) to drive the plug (2) into rotation and also to move the lock tongue (26).

thus achieving the purpose of unlocking the lock. During the above-said unlocking actions, when the plug (2) is moving, the return pin (231) displaces thus moving out of the concave arc (13), and, under pressure moves downward a distance to insert into the round hole (53) of the key (5). During the course of this action as the user opens the lock, if he wishes to reverse the trun of the plug (2) to retract the key (5), part of the lower lock pin (221) has moved upward and then is clamped by the locking-up sleeve (3), thus forming a struck status. Now the return pin (231) makes the key (5) and the plug (2) assembled together as a single unit, rotate simultaneously, thus returning to the original position.

Fig. 5 shows the status of -various lower lock pins (221) just guiding into opening possitions. Since the plug (2) is not continuely turned, the return pin (231) has not been presed to move downward. Also, the lower control pin (241) moves upward because it is not pushed by the key rod (51). The upper control pin (151) is still stuck and stopped between the Icoking-up sleeve (3) and the slip-on ring (4), thus making the plug (2) merely rotate but not be retracting axially out of the hole (11).

The above describes the structural combination of the invention. Now the functions of the rekeyable system for locks are enumerated as follows: As a described above, when the key (5) is inserted into the key hole (21), the end of the key rod (51) does not extend to the lower control pin (241) and so it cannot push against the upper control pin (151), so the plug (2) cannot retract axially out of the cylinder (1).

If the user wishes to change the lock, he has to use a control key (8) to do so, the length of the key rod (81) of this control key (8) is slightly longer than that of (51) of the correct key (5). The guide groove of the key rod (81)(82) is the same as that of the key (5) but no round hole is provided on the key rod (81). when and after the control key (8) is inserted into the key hole (21) of the plug (2), the length of the key rod extends to the lower control pin (241) and can forcibly press it upward to a position flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3). As the lower control pin (241) moves up, the upper control pin (151) is also pushed up, thus lifting the catch-and-stop status of the plug (2).The operator again can turn the control key (8) to an angle, thus guiding various lower lock pins (221) into the position of the point of applied force (821) for the guide groove (82), thereby making various lower lock pins (221) come to a position flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3) (as shown in Fig. 6). Then a force is applied axially on the control key (8) to retract the play (2) with the locking-up sleeve (3), and the slip-on ring (4) out of the cylinder (1) to expedite the work of replacing the plug (2). No round hole is provided on the key rod (81) of the control ke (8) opposite to the return pin (231).When various lock pins (221) on the plug (2) are guided into the guide groove (82) of the key rod (81) to an open position, as the control key (8) is continuedly turned, an accotnmooa- tion space provided on the lower end of the return pin (231) tightly presses against the outer diameter of the key rod (81). Thus its top cannot get out of the said concave arc (13), causing the plug (2) is stick firmly.

In other words, the control key (8) can only the work of replacing the plug (2), and cannot perform the function of opening the lock set. When the plug (2) is removed, the upper lock pin (141) provided on the cylinder (1) is in a ladder form, so the cylinder (1) may not slip out of the plug hole (11). Now a new plug with a matching key inserted in the key hole various lower lock pins in a flat and even position. During the course of insertion, the inclined groove (27) on the end of the plug must point directly to the upper lock pin (141) to smoothly install the new plug therein. Then it most be fruned in reverse and retracted thereby completing the work of replacing the old plug with a new one.

The lower lock pin (221) of this invention can be the designed in various shapes as shown in Fig. 7 to match the means of the locking-up sleeve (3), thus producing the required burglar-proof functions. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the afore-mentioned key (5) has the action of force when it is turned counterclockwise, or as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, clockwise as in Figs. 12 & 13. wherever the direction of opening is paralell to the key (5) shown in Fig. 8 and can only lock up but cannot unlock, the key (5) as shown in Fig. 10, can only unlock but cannot lock as shown in Fig. 12, can lock ano unlock as required. Except for the guide grooves provided on the key rod (51) as shown in Figs. 10 and 12 which belong the axially perpendicular designs and those shown in fig. 14 are in a design with a helical angle, but their functions are all the sane.As to the control key (ô) shown in Fig. 15, the length of its key rod (81) is slightly longer than that of the conventional key (5t and has no round holes. On the key rod (51), the cut guide groove (52) is in a horizontal form, thus when the user wants to insert the key (5) into the key hole (21), he has to align the circum-ferencial face of the cut guide groove (52) with the lower lock pin (221) to smoothly insert it into the key hole (21).Or when he wishes to retract the key (5) out of the key hole (21), he has to reverse the turn at an angle to cause the lower lock pin (221) to move out of the guide groove before he can smoothly retract the key there is some problem with this, so the invention provides another straight groove-type key (7) which can be inserted into, or retract out of, the key hole (21) freely, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. An axial straight groove (72) is provided on the circumference of the diameter of the key rod (71), sveral terraced planes (73) in different heights in this axial straight groove (72), a proper inclined plane (72) between the terraced planes connects each of the two terraced planes.The height and number of the said several terraced planes (73) are provided to mate the length and number of various lower lock pins (221) on the plug (2). This straight groove-type key (7) can be inserted into the key hole (21) of the plug (2) from. any angle and can turn and drive the plug (2) in a positive or reverse direction to undertake the work of locking up or unlocking the lock set. Fig. 18 is the examplary emamplary embodiment of this straight groove-type key (2). Fig. 19 is the cross sectional view of the line 3-3 shown in Fig. 18.After the straight groove-type key (7) is inserted into the key hole (21) of the plug (2), various lower lock pins (221) couple to various terraced faces (73) and make the lower lock pins (221) stay in a position flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve (3); thus the mutual catch-andstop action of the lower lock pins (221) and the side walls of the axial straight groove (72) can be used to turn the straight groove-type key (7). The drives the plug (2) into positive and reverse rotations to undertake the work of locking-up or unlocking the lock set. Since this straight groove-type key (7) is provided with an axial straight groove s72), tis key can only exercise radial rotations and cannot move axially1 so that the key structure of this design cannot be applied to the control key.

The above descriptions belong to the examplary embodiment of the rekeyable system for locks of this invention as applied to the door lock structure. The advantage of this rekeyable system for locks is that it is simple to operate and economical, since one only needs to chane the plug (2) without being reguired to change the entire lock set. The effect however is the same.

Fig. 20 is the three-aimensional parts exploded view of the lock system applied to the padlock structure, comprisesed mainly of: A cylinder (10), the central part of which a plug hole (101) is two through holes (102) on the top of the hole (101), lone of them communicable to the long lock groove hole (103) on both sides of the plug holewhile the other is communicable to the short lock groove hole (103') , a spring (1031) is provided in the long lock groove (103), and on the bottom a drain hole (1032) is provided to drain rain water out. A thread is provided in bottom of the plug hole (101) to match a protective washer (104) for positioning. On the side wall of the cylinder (10), a row of ladder-type pin holes (105) is communicable to the plug hole (101).In each of these terraced pin holes (10), a ladder-type lock pin (1051) and a spring (1052) are provided in sequence and then firmly sealed off by a fixing plug (to53). A screw hole (106) is trilled in a proper slope on the side wall of the long lock groove hole (103) on the cylinder (10) and passes through the long lock groove hole (103) to the thread part at the bottom of the plug hole (101). A fixing screw (1061) is provided in this hole (106).

A plug (20), with a round key hole (201) in its center is provided and a row of ladder-type pin holes (202) are situated along the circumference. A ladder pe lower pin (203) is provlc^ in each cf these n holes (202). The number and positions of this row of pin holes (202) are opposite to the ladder-type pin holes in the above-said cylinder (10). Also, along the circumference of the plug (20), on an axial guide groove (204) at the top of the plug (20) is a ladder form with a smaller diameter. The top of one side of the plug (20) opposite to the lock hole (202)- has an opening (205) and an arc guide groove (206).The top of the plug (20) uses the ladder-type design mainly because at the time when the plug (20) displaces downward in the plug hole (101), the plug (20) can leave a bigger space to provide a bigger space of movement for the steel bearing (107), thus lifting it's catch-and-stop action on the lock hook (30) and also undertaking the work of unlocking the lock set.

The lock hoo'. < 's (30), two end legs are urecual.

The long end leg (351) is accommodated in the long lock hook hole (103) in the cylinder (10), while its short end leg (302) is accommodated in the short lock hook hole (103T). On one of the opposite side of the legs a concave arc (303) and (304) is provided. The action of these two arcs is that when the badlock is under the locking-up status, two steel beads (107) are separated by the plug (20) and placed in the concave arcs (303) and (304), thus making the lock hook (30) unable to bounce up. And conversely, when the two steel beads (107) get out of the two concave arcs (303) and (304), the lock hook (30) can move up, thus forming an unlocking status.

Shown in Fig. 21 is the cross sectional view of the combination of the locking-up status for the examplary embodiment of this padlock. The plug (20) conducts the displacement movement to fulfill its locking-up and unlocking functions for the lock set but does not exercise its rotational movements to achieve this purpose. Thus a gap exists between the plug (20) and the protective washer (104) to allow the plug to make displacement movements. The plug (20) is coupled by the axial guide groove (204) provided on the circumference of its diameter and the concave pin (207) provided in the plug hole (101) ( as shown in Fig. 22). This make the plug (20) only conduct axial movements, not rotational movements. When the lock set is in the locked-up status, the plug (20) is at a position in the upper part of it's hole (101).

The two steel beads (107) are then pressed by the larger of the plug (20) and thus coupled to the concave arcs (303) respectively on the long end (302) of the lock hook, thus producing the catch-and-stop action to put the lock hook (30) on the cylinder (10). These are pushed and pressed by the spring (1052) and thus stay at the lowest possible position in the lader-type pin hole (105), thereby making it lower end extending into the pin hole (202). Therefore, the plug (20) is stuck and cannot misplace axially. When the user wants to open the lock set, he inserts the correct key (40) into the key hole (201) and then turns it in the set direction to make various lower lock pins (203) move into the guide grooves (402) opposite to the key rod (401).When the key (40) is turned to the fixed position, the lower ends of various lock pins (203) are simultaneously at the point (403) of force of application, and their upper ends are flat and even with the outer diameter of the plug (20).

This lift the plug (20) from the catch-and-stop status.

Since various lower lock pins (203) and the guide groove (402) on the key rod (401) are coupled at the point (403) of the force of application to pull the key (40) downward they can simultaneously drive the plug (20) axially downward to a distance which makes the smaller diameter in the upper part of the plug also move downward. This lifts the pushing status of the above-said two steel bearings (107). The lock hook (30) is moved up by the elastic force of the spring (1031), thus completing the action of unlocking the lock set (as shown in Figs. 23 and 24). If the user wants to lock up the lock set, he makes the short leg (302) of the lock hook (30) align with the short lock hook (103') of the cylinder (10), then presses the it down to make concave arcs (303) and (30) respectively on the long and short end leg (301)(302).

These are positioned opposite to the steel heads (107), and the plug (20) is automatically hounced up b te pushing force of the compression spring (108), thus pushing the steel beads (107) to both sides which, in turn, produces the catch-and-stop action on the lock hook (30), thereby forming the locking-up status.

The work of replacing the old plug (20) with a new in the examplary embodiment must be proceeded after the protective washer (104) is disassembled and removed, and then firmly locked by the fixing screw (1061). When the lock set is locked-up, the screw hole (106) is covered and blocked by the long end leg (301) of the lock hook (30). An unauthorized person can not insert something into the screw hole (106) to unscrew the fixed screw (1061). To change the plug (20), the user has to first use a correct key (40) to open the lock set making the long end leg (301) move up, then if this screw hole (106) is not covered and blocked, he inserts a small screw driver into it turning the fixed screw back a distance, thus causing the protective washer (104) to move from its firmly locked status. Upon completion of this step, he locks it up again, removeing the protective washer (104) by a tool, takes out the compression spring (108), then in serts the correct key (40) into the key hole (201).

He then turns it to a fixed position mating the top of the lower lock pin (203) flat and even with the outer diameter of the plug (20), and finally retracts the plug (20) our of the plug hole (101). Then he sets a new plug with its new key into the plug hole (101), but before he places this new plug he has to use the new key making the tops of various lower lock pins completely flat and even with the outer diameter. This makes the axial guide groove on the front end of the plug hole, a concave arc enlarged and a row of ladder-type pin holes communicable to the plugh hole around the circumference of the diameter of the cylinder. A ladder-type upper lock pin and a spring are provided in each of these ladder-type pin holes and then are sealed off and positioned by a fixing plug.A separate ladder-type hole is also provided at a position in the same row on the and of this row of the ladder-type pin holes, and a ladder-type upper control pin and a spring are located here. This is sealed off and positioned by a fixing plug. A conic bead hole communicable to the plug hole is provided on the circumference of the cylinder; a steel bead and a spring are provided in this and then are sealed off and positioned off and positioned by a fixing plug. A plug, in the central part of which, a round key hole is provided, a row of the ladder-type pin holes communicable to the round key hole are also provided. A ladder-type lower lock pin is provided in each of the ladder-type pin holes in this row and the front end in the same row on the plug.

A ladder-type return pin and a spring are provided in this ladder-type pin hole. Another ladder-type pin hole is also provided at the rear end, and a lower control pin is provided too. A side-way groove is provided in the rear end plane to accommodate a lock tone and positioned herein. An inclined groove is situated on this end plane and at a position opposite to the said ladder-type pin hole. A catch post is provided on the circumference of the plug and protrudes slightly higher than the circumference of the plug. And a locking-up sleeve, which is in a hollow ring but not tightly sleeved on the outer diameter of the plug. A row of though holes opposite to the upper lock pins on the plug are provided on the circumference of the diameter of this sleeve.An opening is provided on the front end of this sleeve and at a position in the same row of the through hole; a V-shaped guide groove is provided on the other side of the circumference of the diameter of this sleeve, and the convex post provided on the cir-cumference of the diameter of the plug is set at the lowest position in this V-shaped guide groove. The end plane of this convex post is flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve. A new plug is alinged with the convex pin (207) in the plug hole (101), making able to be smoothly inserted into the plug hole (101). After the new plug is positioned in the plug hole (101), one can press the lock hook (30) down making the lock set in a locked status. Then reversing and retraction the new key he can replace the compression spring (108) and the protective washer (104) in sequence into the cylinder (10).In senting the new key to open the new lock set, making the csrew hole (106) not blocked by the long end leg (301) of the lock hook (30), he can insert a tool into the screw hole (106) to firmly screw up the fixing screw (1G6 This makes the protective washer (:C4) tightly locked up and positioned. He then takes the tool out, thus successfully completing the work of replacing the old plug with a new one.

From the above description, if no correct key (40) is available to firstly open the lock set, making the lock hook (30) move up and lift the screw hole fro the status of being covered and blocked, then the protective washer (104) cannot be removed to change the plug (20).

Besides, as to this cassette redeyablesystem for the padlocks, if it is desired to be economical, one needs only to replace the lower lock pin (203) with a new one plus a new key. The body of its plug (20) can still be used without being changed. In other words, a set of new keys and its matching new lower lock pins can be produced by parts, so the consumers can buy these parts themselves and conduct the work of changing the keys themselves.

However one point that has to emphasized here is that if and when a user changes the lower lock pin, each of the lower lock pins to be inserted into the key hole must entirely match the new key and also be even and flat with the outer diameter of the plug. If any error exIsts, he must adjust their positions until they are totally even and flat with the outer diameter of the plug beforehe can set the plug into it's hole.Furthermore, in the examplary embodiment of this padlock, as the plug (20) displaces axially, the straight groove-type key (,) described in the examplary embodiment of the door lock is unapplicable to this padlock structure; other elements such as slip-on ring (4), and locking-up sleeve (3) are also unapplicable to this.

The examplary embodiments of the present invention applied to the door locks are further shown in Figs. 2527. The best features of these examplary embodiments lie in that the user can replace the plug with a new one with no need to use the control key (6). As shown in Figs. 25 and 26, a ring-shaped slot (29) is provided in a proper place on the front circumferential circle the plug (2) and is sleeved on the front end of the locking-up guide pipe (3) on the outer diameter of the plug (2). But the front end of said lock-up guide pipe (3) does not cover said ring-shaped slot (29).

Further a ladder-type pin hole (17) is provided on the front end of the circumferencial circle of the said cylinder (1). A ladder-type catch-pin (171) and a spring (172) are provided and then tightly sealed and positioned by a fixing plug (173). Another screw hole (18) communicable to said pin hole (17) is provided in the front end of said cylinder (1) in which a screw (18;) is provided. The screw stays in the screw hole (18) te make the ladder-type catch pin (171) press and stay at a position under said pin hole (17). This also makes the end of ladder-type catch-pin (171) extend into and stop in at the ring-shaped slot (29) of the plug (2).This ir, turn, makes the plug (2) only conduct rotatlora movements but not axially be drawn out of the plug hole (11) of the cylinder (1). When the user wants to change the lock, firstly he uses a proper tool to back up the screw (181) enouth distance to make it release its restrictive status on the ladder-type catch-pin (it).

So by means of the elasticity of the spring (172), the ladder-type catch-pin (171) moves upward a distance and also farces its end back out of the ring-shaped slot (29) of the plug (2). Now said plug (2) is released from the status of being causht and restricted (as shown in Fig. 27 ). A user can the insert a proper round rod-type key (5) into said key hole (21), thus making various ladder-type lower lock pin (221) of said plug (2) guid into the corresponding guide slots (52) in the key rod (51).

This makes various ladder-type low lock pins (22t) simultaneously positione flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve pipe (3), thereon causing the plug (2) to completely releas. Now the user can axially pull said rod-type key (5) to remove and disassemble said plug (2) from said cylinder (1). The procedure and guide-lines to replace te plug are the same as those mentioned in the above door lock structure.

The advantages of these examplary embodiments lie in that the user can do the disassembly work of the plug (2) without using a control key (6); And although the screw (181) can be turned optionally back to ae said lasder-type catch-pIn (171) rove up, be still cannot make the plug (2) completely releas fror s retriction. There fore the plug (2) cannot be reproved or disassembled. Upon completion of the replacerent work the user can use a proper tool to put the screw (181), into the screw hole (18), thus causing the laddertype catch-pin (171) to press down to make it's end enter into the ring-shaped slot (29) of the said plug (2).

This makes the plug (2) stay as it is now restricted.

The above structures belong to the examplary embodiments to undertake the lock replacement work by removing and disassembling the plug. But the rekeyable system of this invention can also be applied the structure of removable cylinder (1) as shown in Fig. 28-30. In those examplary embodiments, the length of the cylinder (1) is shorter than that of the plug (2), further the end of the said plug (2) extrends through the rear end of the lock housing (8), and the rear end of this has a thicker wall part (81). A ladder-type hole (82) is provided in a angle of obliguity in said wall part (81).

A control pin (821) and a spring (822) are provided in the ladder-type pin hole (82) and then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug (823). Further a rin-shaped slot (290) is provided at a position correspondln to the wall part (81) of the lock housing (8i. A ladder-type pin hole (291) communicable to the round key hole (21) is provided in the ring-shaped slot (290) and at a position corresponding to the row the same as that of the lower lock pin (221). Normaly, under the internal actIon of tension of the spring (822) the control pin (821) stays at the lower-most position in said pin hole (82), so said plug (2) can only rotate since it is caught and stopped by the spring (822).Purther, the catch and stop action produced by the upper lock pin (141) the make the plug (2) and cylinder (1) combine as an integer (as shown in Fig. 29) to undertake the opening work of the lock set. The examplary embodiment of the door lock uses the round rod-type key (5) to proceed the opening work of the lock set, since the length of the key rod (51) is shorter, it cannot effect the control pin (292), Therefore the key (5) can only drive the plug (2) to exercise the stretching and closing work. When the user wants to do the removal and disassembling work of the plug (2), he uses the control key (6) to directly push the lower control pin (292) up until it comes to a position flat and even to the outer diameter of said plug (2).He then rotates said plug (2) to an angle to make the lower control pin (292) push the upper control pin (821) up, since the combination of the cylinder (1) the plug (2) and the lock housing (8) is completed in se a way that the upper control pin (821) is caught and stopped in the ring-shaped slot (290). Next the cylinder (1) together with the plug (2) is removed fro the lock bousing and disassembled (8). This action is illustrated in Fig. 30, and the guidelines of the replacement of the entire set are si;r,ilar to those of the replacement of the plug.In this examplar embodiment, the plug (2) can also be added with other elements such as the locking-up sleeve pipe and return pin to obtain the same functions as those mentioned above.

The above-said various examplary embodiments all belong to the structures that the invention uses to conduct replacement work of the lock by removing and disassembling the plug or cylinder additionally, the this invention fruther provides a structural desIgn that can reach the object of the lock replacement without any need to remove and disassemble the plug or cylinder. As shown in Figs. 31-36. They provided an automatic plate-fillingtype rekeyable system. A row of through holes (19) are provided at a position with a proper angle on the circumferential circle of the cylinder (1). A. number of filling plates (191) with each of an equal thickness and a spring (192) are provided for each throngh holes (19), they are then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug (193).The number of through holes (19) is the same as that of ladder-type pin holes (22) in the plug (2), and they are positioned opposite to those of the pin holes (20). Since the key replacement work of this examplary embodiment is completed with no need to remove and disassemble said plug (2), the end of said plug (2) is positioned by a positioning ring (9), thus making it not only conduct rotational movements but also it will not axially slip off. Other structures of said cylinder (1) and plug (2) are the same as those of the first examplary embodiment of the door lock and their construction is shown in Figs. 31 and 32.When a correct key (7) is inserted into said key hole (21) of said plug (2) this examplary embodiment is used in coordination with the straight groove-type. key (7) , various individual lower lock pins (227) on the plug (2) match various terraced planes (73) in the axial straight slot (72) of said straight groove-type key (7). This makes various lower lock pins move up simultaneously to the filling plate (191). These are set in the uppermost plate in various ladder-type pin holes (22) staying at a position flat and even with that of the outer diameter of said locking ut sleeve (3) (as shown in Figs. 33 and 34). The plug (2) is now released from the status of being caught and restricted and the rotation causes it to unlock or lock.Conversely, if an incorrect key is used, and only one of the lower lock pins (221) is not moved up to the fixed position, it can still cause the locking function, so the said plug (2) cannot be rotated. From the above description, it is evident then that the changes of the heights of said various terraced planes (73) of straight groove-type key (7) corespond with the thickness of the filling plate (191).

The key replacement work of this examplary embodi ment is quite simple and easy, i.e. the correct strait groove-type key (7) is inserted into said key hole (21) to drive the plug (2) to an angle, hereby making the terraced pin holes (22) of said plug (2) directly lign through holes (19) of the cylinder (1) (as shown in Fig.

35), the key (7) is pulled out of the key hole (21), and a new straight groove-type key is inserted. Since it has terraced planes different to those of the original various corresponding lower lock pins (221) produce changes in locking and unlocking positions. The filling plates (191) set in the terraced holes (22) match said filling plates (191) in the through holes (19) of the cylinder (1). To conduct the automatic filling or removal action, the plug (2) is turned to its original position, hereby completing the key replacement work in a very simple and convenient manner.

Claims (1)

1. A rekeyable system applicable to locks, its main structures consists of: - a cylinder on which a through plug hole is provided, an enlarged part is then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug; a terraced hole is provided in the position in the same row at the end of said row of the ladder-type pin holes, a ladder-type upper control pin and a spring are provided in said terraced hole and then are sealed and positioned by a fixing plug; a conic bead hole communicable to the plug hole is provided on the circumference of said cylinder in which a steel bead and a spring are provided and then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug; and - â plug, in the central part of which, a round key hole is provided, further a row of the ladder-type pin holes communicable to said round key hole are provided on its circumference; a lower lock pin is provided in each of various ladder-type pin holes; a ladder-type pin hole is provided in the front of the same row as said row; a ladder-type return pin and a spring are provided in said ladder-type pin hole; further a ladder-type pin hole is provided in the rear end in the same row in which a ladder-type lower control pin is provided; a sideway slot is provided in the end face in the rear of the plug to accommodate the lock tongue to be placed and positioned thereIn.Also an inclined slot is provided at position on the said end face and also corresponding to said ladder-type pin hole; a catch post is provided on the circumference of said plug and slightly protrudes to a height over the circumference of said plug; and - a locking sleeve, which is in a hollow ring shape but not very tightly sleeved on the outer diameter of the plug; a row of through holes are provided on the circumferential circle of the locking sleeve and also corresponding to the upper lock pin of said lock body and to the lower lock pin of said plug; an opening is provided in the front end of said locking sleeve and at a position the same as the row of said through holes; further another through hole is provided in the circumferential circle of said locking sleeve and also corresponding to the steel bearing on said cylinder; and a V-shaped guide groove is provided in the other side of the circumferential circle of said locking sleeve, while the protruding post provided on the circumferential circle of the plug is accommodated at the lower most position in the V-shaped guide slot and the end face of the protruding post is made flat and even with the outer diameter of said locking sleeve; - a slip-on ring, which is fixedly combined with the positioning lock at the end of the plug; a coucave plate is provided on the circumference of this slip-on ring and is coupled to the inclined groove on the end of the plug; an interval exists between the sl-p-or.

ring and the locking-up sleeve; - a round rod-type key, on the key rod of which a guide groove opposite to and matching, the ladder-type lower lock pin is cut and provided, and a round hole opposite to the return pin on the plug is also provided herein.

2. The lock structure as recited in the above Claim 1, wherein on the cylinder, the upper lock pin is provided and corresponding to the lower lock pin provided on the plug; under the tension of the spring, the return pin on the plug presses against and contacts the concave arc of the enlarged portion in the front end of the plug hole in the cylinder; under the tension of the spring, the upper control pin on the cylinder stays at the lowest position -in the ladder-type hole and makes the end of the upper control pin stick and stop between the locking-up sleeve and the slip-on sleeve, hereby making the plug rotate but not axially retract out.

3. The lock structure as receipted in the above Claim 1, wherein the steel bead provided on the cylinder passes through the through hole on the locking-up sleeve and is then pressed on the circumference cf the diameter of the plug, and its pressing force against the plug is stronger than that of the locking-up sleeve; 4.The lock structure as recited in the above Claim 1, wherein on the key rod of the round rod-type key, various guide grooves are provided, the lowest positions of these guide grooves are at the points of applied force to make various corresponding lock pins stay in position flat and even with the outer diameter of the locking-up sleeve to form a locked status when the said lock pins are guided to the positions of the applied force; the guide groove provided on this key rod can be changed to a position for the point of the applied force, hereby making the key conduct the positve rotational actions; further this guide groove can be a designed with a helical angle.

5. The lock structure as rectied in the above Claim 1, wherein an axial groove design can be used on the key rod of the round rod-type key, in its axial gronve, terraced planes in different heights to match various lower lock pins are provided and an inclined plane is provided thereon to join the two adjacent terraced planes, hereby making various lower lock pins stick and stop in the axial groove and then produce, with the side wall, the action of applied force which, in turn, makes the straight groove-type key drive the plug positively or reversely into motion.

6. The lock structure as recited in the above ClaIm 1, wherein the control key to be used to change the plug makes the length of the key rod slightly longer the normally used used key, a guide groove the same as that of the correct key is provided on the key rod of this control key, but no round hole opposite to the return key is provided therein; this control key can press up against the lower control pin on the plug, making the upper control pin move up to the position of the circumference of the diameter of the locking-up sleeve to make the plug relived from the status of being restricted so as to be retracted axially out of the plug hole.

7. A rekeyable system for locks as recited in the above Claim 1, wherein its structure is applied to the padlock. This is comprised the following: - a cylinder, a plug hole is provided on its center part, two through holes are provided in the upper part of the plug hole, and are communicable to the padlock groove hole and the short lock groove hole both sides of the cylinder respectively; a steel bead is provided in each of the said long and short lock groove holes; further a spring is provided in the long lock groove hole, and a drain hole is provided at the bottom of the said long lock groove hole; a row of ladder-type pin holes communicable to the plug hole are provided on one said wall of the cylinder, a ladder-type lock pin and a spring are provided in each of the side ladder-type pin holes and then are sealed off and positioned by a fixing plug; a screw hole with a slope is provided on the other side wall of the cylinder and passes through the said long lock hook hole to the thread position of the plug bottom, a fixing screw is provided in the said screw hole; further a convex pin is provided in the plug hole; and - a plug, a round key hole provided in its center, a row of the ladder-type pin holes communicable to the said key hole provided on the circumference, a ladder type lower lock pin is provided in each of the said pin holes; an axial guide groove is provided on the circumference of the diameter of the plug and catches and stops with the convex pin in the plug hole, making the plug only conduct axial displace-ments, and not rotations; further, the said plug is in a ladder form with a smaller diameter provided on its end, an opening and an arc-shaped guide groove are provided on one side of the plug opposite the pin hole; and - a lock hook, its two end legs are unequal in length and design, a concave arc each is provided in the opposite inner side planes of the long end leg and the short end let respectively.

8. The padlock lock structure as recited in the above Claim 7, wherein the plug is set in the plug hole, space is kept between the bottom and plane of the and the protective washer, and a compression spring is provided in the said space.

9. The padlock structure as recited in the above-said Claim 7, wherein during its locked status, the larger diameter of the plug is used to space the beads in the two through holes making the steel beads respectively coupled with the concave arcs on the two end legs of the lock hook to make the said lock hook unable to move up; during its unlocked status, the plug is made to move downwardly a distance and the smaller diameter of the plug is also made to move downwardly producing a bigger space for the movement of the said two steel beads making the lock hook relieved from the status of being restricted; the tension of the spring in the long lock hook hole makes the lock hook moves up, thus forming the unlocking action.

10. The padlock structure as recited in the above Claim 7, when the user wishes to change the plug, he opens the lock set first to make the screw hole in the cylinder not covered and blocked by the long end leg of the lock hook, then he inserts a proper tool into the screw hole to unscrew the fixing screw, thus relieving the protective washer from the status of being restricted, and lock up the lock set again, remove the protective washer, compression spring and plug; when an old plug has been replaced with a new one, he follows the reverse sequence to replace the compression spring and protective washer, and uses the fixing screw to firmly secure the protective washer, hereby satisfactorily completing the work of plug replacement.

11. The padlock structure as recited in the above Clalit 7, wherein during the locked status, the screw hole o the said lock bod is covered and blocked by the end leg of the lock hook, and thus nobody can use improper tools to unscrew the said fixing screw thereon.

12. The padlock structure as recited in the above Claim 7, wherein the lower lock pin provided on the plug opposite to, and also matching, the upper lock pin on the cylinder.

13. The lock structure as defined in the above Claim 1, wherein a ring-shaped slot can be provided at a proper place on the circumferential circle in the front end of the plug, and a terraced pin hole is provided on the circumferenteal circle in the front end of said cylinder, in which a catch-pin and a spring are provided and then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug; further, a screw hole is provided in the front end of said cylinder and is communicable to said terraced catch-pin hole, and a screw is provided in said screw hole; said screw is screwed in the inner part of said screw hole, thus making said terraced catch-pin stay at the lowermost position in said terraced pin hole to make the end of said terraced catch pin caught and stopped in said ring-shaped slot of said plug and then to make said plug only rotate and drive but never axially slip off; conversely, said screw is unscrewed backward to make said terraced catch-pin move up by the tenstion of said spring, and then the correct rod-type key is inserted into said key hole, hereby removing and disassembling said plug to undertake the plug replacement work.

14. The door lock structure as defined in the above Claim 1, wherein the removal and disassembly of said plug can execute the lock replacement work, comprising: - a lock housing, on the rear end of which a thicker wall part is provided; a terraced pin hole is provided in a proper angle of inclination and on said wall part; a terraced upper control pin and a spring are provided in said terraced pin hole and then sealed and positioned by a fixing plug; - a plug, the length of which is longer than that of said cylinder, said plug extends out of the rear side of said lock housing; a ring-shaped slot is provided on the corresponding wall part of said lock housing, a terraced pin hole communicable to said round key hole is provided at a position in the same row as opposite to said lower lock pin and in said ring-shaped slot, and a terraced lower control pin is provided in said terraced pin hole.

15. The door lock structure as defined in the Claim 14, wherein the end of said upper control pin provided on said lock housing is caught and restricted in said ring-shaped slot on the end of said plug at usual times to make said plug only rotate; when said control key is inserted in said round key hole to make said lower control pin move up, said plug is truned to make said lower control pin directly pass upper control pin out of said ring-shaped slot, thus relieving the restrictive phenomenon of said plug and cylinder being carght and stopped; and a force is applies axially to remove and disassemble the whole set of said cylinder together with said plug.The lock structure as defineed in above Claim 1, wherein it can further be an automated filling-plate-type rekeyable structural design, a row of through holes are provided at a proper angle and in the circumferenctial circle of said cylinder, the number said rows of through holes is the same as that of, and also correspondling to said terraced pin holes in said plug; a number of filling plates with each in an equal thickness and a spring are provided each of said various through holes respectively; further said lower lock pin is placed in said various terraced pin holes of said plug match said filling plates, hereby constituting the locking and unlocking functions; said plug can be driven by a correct straight groove-type key for unlock-ing to a fixed position to make said various terraced pin holes flat and even with said through holes of said cylinder, then said straight groove-type key is drawn out, and another straight groove-type key is inserted into said round key hole of said plug, so the heights of said various terraced planes of said straight slot-type key match said various lower lock pins, hereby making said filling plates in said through holes conduct the changes of automatically filling that which is insufficient or automatically moving up the excessive along with the variances of the heIghts of said various corresponding terraced planes of said straight groove-type key and achieving the object of replacing the old key with a new one.

17. The lock structure as defined in theabove Claim 16, wherein various terraced planes in different heights are provided in the axial straight slot in said and the height differences of said terraced please should be the proper number of times of the thickness of said filling plates.

18. The lock structure as defined in the above Claim 1, wherein the upper lock pin has a ladder-like cylindrical upper section, a conical intermediate section and a flange at the lower section corresponding to the upper section for permanently inserting into a ladder type pin hole and to provide burglar-proof effect.